Thrust washer to take torque converter axial loading
The present invention broadly comprises a vibration damper assembly for a torque transmitting device. The assembly includes a thrust washer secured by first and second components of a vibration damper and a hub secured by the first and second components. The vibration damper, thrust washer, and hub are secured in a fixed position with respect to one another. In some aspects, the torque transmitting device comprises a longitudinal axis and the thrust washer comprises a hub segment having substantially a toroidal shape and at least one retainer segment extending outward, with respect to the axis, from the hub segment. At least a portion of the at least one retainer segment is disposed between the first and second components.
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This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/705,579, filed Aug. 4, 2005.
The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transmitting force between a rotary driving unit (such as the engine of a motor vehicle) and a rotary driven unit (such as the variable-speed transmission in the motor vehicle). In particular, the invention relates to a vibration damper assembly including a thrust washer and a hub.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, washer 26 floats axially with respect to damper 12 and hub 20 unless measures are taken. In some cases, washer 26 is pressed onto hub 20. Unfortunately, press fitting increases fabrication complexity and cost, as well as assembly time. In some cases torque converter 10 is modularly assembled. For example, damper 12 may be shipped separately for later assembly in converter 10. Unfortunately, press fitting requires additional equipment at the site of eventual assembly and thereby, as noted supra, increases complexity, cost, and time. In some cases, washer 26 slides onto hub 20 and additional assembly steps are required to restrain washer 26. For example, cover 22 is assembled to converter 10 to hold washer 26 in place. Unfortunately, the preceding arrangement can hamper modularity. For example, if damper 12 is to be shipped to another site for final assembly in converter 10, damper 12 and washer 26 cannot be preassembled. Instead, the parts must be shipped separately and then mated during final assembly, increasing the cost and complexity of the final assembly.
Hub 20 also can float longitudinally. For example, hub 20 is engaged with one or more splines in converter 10. Unfortunately, the normal and friction forces produced by the spline interfaces may fail to keep hub 20 from moving axially.
To minimize friction and wear between end 24 and washer 26, washer 26 should rotate synchronously with end 24. Unfortunately, in some cases, washer 26 also can float rotationally with respect to hub 20. To prevent this rotation, washer 26 can be pressed, as noted above, with the attendant problems also noted above. Other means (not shown), such as fastening washer 26 to end 24 using rivets, taps, etc. can be used. However, these measures can increase the cost and complexity of the parts and assembly associated with converter 12.
Thus, there is a long-felt need for a thrust washer in a torque converter damper that is easily installed and can be restrained axially and rotationally without press fitting or assembly of ancillary components of the torque converter. Further, there is a long-felt need for a simplified means of preventing axial movement of a hub in a damper for a torque converter. In addition, there is a long-felt need to increase the modularity of torque converter and torque converter damper assembly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention broadly comprises a vibration damper assembly for a torque transmitting device. The assembly includes a thrust washer secured by first and second components of a vibration damper and a hub secured by the first and second components. The vibration damper, thrust washer, and hub are secured in a fixed position with respect to one another. In some aspects, the torque transmitting device comprises a longitudinal axis and the thrust washer comprises a hub segment having substantially a toroidal shape and at least one retainer segment extending outward, with respect to the axis, from the hub segment. At least a portion of the at least one retainer segment is disposed between the first and second components.
In some aspects, the hub comprises a first spline and the at least one retainer segment and the first spline are intermeshed. In some aspects, the hub comprises a second spline and at least one tooth in the second spline has first and second segments. The first and second segments have respective heights measured with respect to the axis. The respective height for the first segment is greater than the respective height for the second segment. At least a portion of the first segment is disposed between the first and second components. In some aspects, the first component is a cover plate and the second component is a flange.
The present invention also broadly comprises a thrust washer and a hub for a torque transmitting device. The thrust washer includes a hub segment, having substantially a toroidal shape, and at least one retainer segment. The at least one retainer segment extends from an outer circumference of the hub segment. In some aspects, the at least one retainer segment comprises a plurality of segments.
The hub includes a spline on an outer circumferential surface of the hub and, for at least one tooth in the spline, a raised segment. The raised segment has a first height and a remaining portion of the at least one tooth has a second height. The first and second heights are measured with respect to a longitudinal axis for the hub and the first height is greater than the second height. In some aspects, the hub comprises a longitudinal end and the raised segment is disposed proximate the end.
The present invention also broadly comprises a method for transmitting an axial load in a torque transmitting device.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an assembly for transmitting an axial load in a torque transmitting device including a thrust washer to protect a hub for a torque converter from wear, while axially fixing the thrust washer using components of a damper for the torque converter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an assembly for transmitting an axial load in a torque transmitting device that rotationally fixes a thrust washer to a hub for the torque converter.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an assembly for a torque transmitting device that axially fixes a hub for the torque converter using the components of the vibration damper.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
In general, washer 103 is secured by components of damper 104 and segments 108 interface or engage with components of damper 104. Specifically, at least a portion of segments 108 engage at least one of cover plate 122 and flange 124 of damper 104. In this manner, washer 103 and damper 104 are kept in substantially a fixed position with respect to one another. That is, unlike the arrangement described supra for
Converter 102 includes longitudinal axis 126. In general, segments 108 are disposed along outer circumferential surface 128 of segment 110 and extend outward with respect to axis 126. In general, segments 108 and 110 are one monolithic piece, as shown in
Washer 103 is not limited to any particular number of segments 108. Although six segments 108 are shown in
Washer 103 is not limited to any particular shape, configuration, or orientation of segments 108 and 110. In
Surface 148 and 150 of segments 108 engage damper 104. In some aspects, surfaces 148 and 150 are orthogonal to axis 126. In some aspects, surfaces 148 and 150 are otherwise parallel. However, it should be understood that other configurations of surfaces 148 and 150 are possible. For example, plate 122 and flange 124 may be in a non-parallel configuration at the areas of engagement with segments 108, and surfaces 148 and 150 can be configured to mirror this non-parallel configuration. In some aspects, surface 152 is configured to conform to hub 106.
In some aspects, spline 154, specifically, raised segment 160, is configured to maintain hub 106 in a fixed position with respect to damper 104. That is, spline 154 and segment 160 hold hub 106 in a fixed position. At least one tooth 154 includes raised segment 160. This at least one tooth also includes segment 162. Segments 162 and 160 have heights 164 and 166, respectively. Height 166 is greater than height 164. Height 166 is selected so that when hub 106 and flange 124 are engaged, surface 168 engages surface 170. That is, top 180 of segment 160 extends (in a radial distance from axis 126) beyond the root 182 of tooth 158. The axial position of segment 160 is at least partially determined by the configuration of damper 104. That is, segment 160 is positioned to engage components of damper 104 as described supra. However, it should be understood that segment 160 can have other configurations with respect to hub 106, and such configurations are within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Returning to
Thrust washer 103 and hub 106 are not limited to the torque converter and damper arrangement shown in
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A vibration damper assembly for a torque transmitting device, comprising:
- a thrust washer secured by first and second components of a vibration damper; and,
- a hub secured by said first and second components.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said vibration damper, said thrust washer, and said hub are secured in a fixed position with respect to one another.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said torque transmitting device comprises a first longitudinal axis and wherein said vibration damper, said thrust washer, and said hub maintain said fixed position when at least one of said damper, washer, and hub are moved parallel to said first axis.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said torque transmitting device comprises a second longitudinal axis and said thrust washer comprises a hub segment having substantially a toroidal shape and at least one retainer segment extending outward, with respect to said second axis, from said hub segment; and,
- wherein at least a portion of said at least one retainer segment is disposed between said first and second components.
5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said hub comprises a first spline and said at least one retainer segment and said first spline are intermeshed.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said torque transmitting device comprises a third longitudinal axis and said hub comprises a second spline and at least one tooth in said second spline has first and second segments, where said first and second segments have respective heights measured with respect to said third axis, and wherein said respective height for said first segment is greater than said respective height for said second segment.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of said first segment is disposed between said first and second components.
8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first component is a cover plate and said second component is a flange.
9. A thrust washer for a torque transmitting device, comprising:
- at least one retention segment arranged to engage first and second components of a torque converter damper; and,
- a hub segment, said hub segment having substantially a toroidal shape and arranged to engage a hub for said torque converter.
10. The thrust washer recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one retention segment is arranged to be disposed between said first and second components.
11. The thrust washer recited in claim 9 wherein said at least one retention segment is arranged to matingly engage said torque converter hub.
12. A hub for a torque transmitting device, comprising:
- a first spline; and,
- for at least one tooth in said first spline, a raised segment, where said raised segment is arranged to engage first and second components of a torque converter damper and hold said hub in a fixed position with respect to said damper.
13. The hub of claim 12 wherein said first and second components comprise a cover plate and a flange, and said raised segment is arranged to be disposed between said cover plate and said flange.
14. A method for transferring axial load in a torque transmitting device, comprising:
- securing a thrust washer with first and second components of a vibration damper; and,
- securing a damper hub for said vibration damper with said first and second components.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein securing said thrust washer and said damper hub further comprises securing said damper, said thrust washer, and said damper hub in a fixed position with respect to one another.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said torque transmitting device comprises a first longitudinal axis and securing said thrust washer and said damper hub in a fixed position further comprises maintaining said fixed position when at least one of said damper, washer, and hub are moved parallel to said axis.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein said torque transmitting device comprises a second longitudinal axis; and, said method further comprising:
- for said thrust washer, forming: a hub segment having substantially a toroidal shape; and,
- at least one retainer segment extending outward, with respect to said second axis, from said hub segment; and,
- wherein securing said thrust washer comprises disposing said at least one retainer segment between said first and second components.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
- forming said damper hub with a first spline; and,
- intermeshing said at least one retainer segment and said first spline.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein said torque transmitting device comprises a third longitudinal axis; and, said method further comprising:
- forming said damper hub with a spline having first and second segments, where said first and second segments have respective heights measured with respect to said third axis, and
- wherein said respective height for said first segment is greater than said respective height for said second segment.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
- disposing at least a portion of said first segment between said first and second components.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein said first component is a cover plate and said second component is a flange.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 23, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2007
Patent Grant number: 7938243
Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG (Buehl)
Inventors: David Avins (Burbank, OH), Jean-Francois Heller (Strassburg)
Application Number: 11/473,663
International Classification: F16H 45/02 (20060101);